J&K Police forms SIT to probe killing of advocate Babar Qadri

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the killing of advocate Babar Qadri, who police said was shot dead inside his residence in downtown area of Srinagar.

Inspector general of police in Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said local police and brother-in-law of Qadri, also a police officer, had intimated him about the increasing threat perception to his well-being. They had suggested he avoid staying at his home, located in congested Hawal area of Srinagar.

“I went to his home today morning and inspected the scene of crime. Two persons had posed as clients seeking advice for an accident case. They had arrived at his home around 6:20 pm. They sat on chairs in the lawn and opened fire with pistols as soon as Babar came out,” said Kumar, while giving details of the incident. Qadri had received four bullet wounds in the head and succumbed to injuries on way to the SKIMS hospital.


“They also fired some shots in air while fleeing from the spot. We are scanning and assessing footage of a CCTV camera installed in the lane,” said Kumar.

The SIT will be headed by superintendent police Hazratbal and will include local officers from the area, legal experts and an officer from the anti-militancy unit as well. “The SIT will solve the case immediately and ascertain which militants and outfit was involved in the incident,” said Kumar. He said the police would either “arrest the assailants, and if that is not possible, they will be neutralised in an encounter soon”. For police, this case is top priority, said Kumar.

In 2018 too, unidentified men had opened fire on Qadri’s car, but even then he had declined to shift to a safe zone. “To his brother-in-law and local police he (Qadri) had said that he did not want to leave his house,” said Kumar. “I have seen the tweet by him about danger to his life posted a few days back. Unfortunately, he had not tagged the Kashmir police in that tweet, but Jammu police.”

Kumar clarified that Qadri was not a “protected person”, and he urged people to inform the police if they have any threat perception.